Cricket-Australia's Lyon charged by ICC as test spirits run over

Reuters Staff

3 Min Read

DURBAN, March 5 (Reuters) - Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has been charged by the International Cricket Council with conduct contrary to the spirit of the game as the fall-out from a highly-charged first test against South Africa continued on Monday.

Lyon was charged with a level one breach, which could lead to a fine of up to 50 percent of his match fee and two demerit points. Four points would result in missing a test.

The spinner whipped off the bails to run out AB de Villiers on Sunday as South Africa’s top order crumbled at the start of their bid to chase the mammoth 417-run target Australia set them to win.

De Villiers made a despairing dive but was well short and Lyon leapt over him in celebration, dropping the ball on his opponent before joining his team mates in a jig of joy.

Cricket Australia said Lyon had been in touch with De Villiers to say there was no malice intended and apologised.

There was also a reconciliation after Australia took 20 minutes on Monday to wrap up victory by dismissing the home side for 298.

Following a fracas outside the dressing-rooms on Sunday between Australia vice-captain David Warner and South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock the two shook hands after De Kock was the last man out.

Warner was restrained by team mates as he directed a verbal barrage at De Kock when the players returned to the dressing-rooms at tea on Sunday. Media reports said De Kock made disparaging comments about Warner’s wife Candice who is a professional endurance athlete.

“Getting personal on the field is not on. We were certainly very chirpy out in the field as well. As far as I’m aware, we didn’t get personal towards Quinton,” Australia captain Steve Smith told a news conference.

“What he said got a little bit personal towards Davey and, as we saw, it certainly provoked an emotional response.”

South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee retorted by saying De Kock had suffered personal verbal abuse while batting.

Both teams were reminded by match referee Jeff Crowe of the spirit in which the game should be played.

“All I’ve heard is there was a lot of personal stuff on the field already. Who started it, I don’t know. If it was happening on the field it probably should have been nipped in the bud on the field already,” South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said.

“The fact that it spilled over off the field, that shouldn’t have happened.” (Reporting by Mark Gleeson, Editing by Ed Osmond)